I can't believe they are letting gays in before atheists. Both are actually against what's the bible, but the bible actually singles homosexuality out by being specifically bad pointing out it's a perversion by illustrating Sodom and Gomorrah.

I was a boyscout as a teen - even made eagle scout. I am and always have been an atheist. the troop I was with was, at least at the time, very secular. I remember god being part of the scout oath - but I always thought of it as god is also mentioned in the pledge of allegiance. I always omitted that part while in school and in scouts. figured it was optional. actually, I didn't even realize the boy scouts were considered "christian" until very late during my time there, which was right around when the whole no gays thing began....late 90's I believe. just was never a big part of what was discussed during meetings or on camping trips. the scouts were a good experience and even though I plan on raising my kids as atheists as well, I won't hesitate to let them sign up for boy/cub scouts.

xen0blue:I can't believe they are letting gays in before atheists. Both are actually against what's the bible, but the bible actually singles homosexuality out by being specifically bad pointing out it's a perversion by illustrating Sodom and Gomorrah.

It's easier to tell when someone is gay, they like the tight shorts and always watch the butts of other scouts on hikes. Athiest, you pretty much have to wave a flaming bible over your head while peeing on a cross for people to notice.

And that's always chapped my ass. "How can you trust the word/character of someone who doesn't believe in God?" (paraphrasing there) I'm actually friends with a handful of Masons, and the shiat they pull off and lie straight faced about is pathetic.

"The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God ... The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members."

Now who can argue with that? I think we're all indebted to Scoutmaster Gabby Johnson for clearly stating what needed to be said. I'm particularly glad that you lovely Farkers were here today to read that quote. Not only was it authentic frontier gibberish, it expressed a courage little seen in this day and age.

/"All right... we'll give some Boy Scout Leader positions to the fairies and the chinks. But we don't want the Irish! "

I was a Cub Scout, and the pushing of the religious agenda was one of the reasons I never got past Webelos.

My parents had nothing to do with it. They'd both been brought up in strict, religious homes, and had decided not to discuss religion with my sister and I as we grew up unless we brought it up, then they would be encyclopedic in their responses. We were free to go to church and church-related activities with our friends, or not to. They just didn't push any of it on us.

Oddly, both my sister and I grew up to be atheists (not agnostics). Funny how it works if you don't indoctrinate kids into your religion at an early age.

Anyway, I was always unhappy with the religious subtext in scouts, so I just stopped going. Not really sure why an atheist would want to be in the Scouts.

xen0blue:I can't believe they are letting gays in before atheists. Both are actually against what's the bible, but the bible actually singles homosexuality out by being specifically bad pointing out it's a perversion by illustrating Sodom and Gomorrah.

Sodom and Gonnarhea was not gay. It was full of fat lazy rich republican f*cks who brought about their own destruction due to being rich non-caring f*cks who didn't care about poor people.

xen0blue:I can't believe they are letting gays in before atheists. Both are actually against what's the bible, but the bible actually singles homosexuality out by being specifically bad pointing out it's a perversion by illustrating Sodom and Gomorrah.

Sodom and Gomorrah was because they did not show hospitality to guests - the form of that inhospitality is secondary or tertiary to the issue. In the same way, we generally do not say your crime was carpentry when you nail someone's head to a wall

I was a Boy Scout for most of my adolescence. Eventually made to Life Scout (one rank below Eagle).

A couple years ago I went to volunteer to assist,as a way to give back to an organization that gave me so much. I used to love all the camping we did and things we learned. Plus, out of everyone I still know from my youth, almost all of them are my fellow Scouts. Well, I'm not sure why it didn't dawn on me, but I forgot that they don't allow atheists to join (which I became later in life). It was a sad phone to get from the local Scout Master, especially when the night before I got out all my old Scout stuff to look at.

/Life Scout//Order of the Arrow///Woodsmen////Multiple merit badges and patches for extreme weather and terrain camping

xen0blue:I can't believe they are letting gays in before atheists. Both are actually against what's the bible, but the bible actually singles homosexuality out by being specifically bad pointing out it's a perversion by illustrating Sodom and Gomorrah.

Oh yeah, I'm sure that the bible omitted atheism because denying God was no big deal.

Lumber Jack Off:I was a boyscout as a teen - even made eagle scout. I am and always have been an atheist. the troop I was with was, at least at the time, very secular. I remember god being part of the scout oath - but I always thought of it as god is also mentioned in the pledge of allegiance. I always omitted that part while in school and in scouts. figured it was optional. actually, I didn't even realize the boy scouts were considered "christian" until very late during my time there, which was right around when the whole no gays thing began....late 90's I believe. just was never a big part of what was discussed during meetings or on camping trips. the scouts were a good experience and even though I plan on raising my kids as atheists as well, I won't hesitate to let them sign up for boy/cub scouts.

You said everything I came here to say. Perfect summary of my experience and feelings toward the scouts and religion.

kim jong-un:xen0blue: I can't believe they are letting gays in before atheists. Both are actually against what's the bible, but the bible actually singles homosexuality out by being specifically bad pointing out it's a perversion by illustrating Sodom and Gomorrah.

Oh yeah, I'm sure that the bible omitted atheism because denying God was no big deal.

FWIW, some more liberal Jews don't consider atheism to be a disqualification for being Jewish.

kim jong-un:xen0blue: I can't believe they are letting gays in before atheists. Both are actually against what's the bible, but the bible actually singles homosexuality out by being specifically bad pointing out it's a perversion by illustrating Sodom and Gomorrah.

Oh yeah, I'm sure that the bible omitted atheism because denying God was no big deal.

I was a cub scout, a webelo and a boy scout. None for any extended period of time, just kept trying again every few years. Other than oaths I can't recall anything remotely religious. It was more of a patriotic child army, preparing for everything.

xen0blue:I can't believe they are letting gays in before atheists. Both are actually against what's the bible, but the bible actually singles homosexuality out by being specifically bad pointing out it's a perversion by illustrating Sodom and Gomorrah.

to be precise, Sodom and Gomorrah wasn't specifically about homosexuality but wickedness in general and being rude to guests in specific. If you read the story,Lot tried to placate the crowd by offering to let them bone the shiat out of his daughters but they refused.

Ennuipoet:Any organization that needs me to profess belief in a higher power, whether it be scouts or Alcoholic Anonymous. is not something I want to be a part of any way.

Unless, they offer steep discounts at local bars, then I would be willing to lie about my disbelief, for a couple of rounds.

When I was young I was inthe Boy Scouts, and an athiest. I just lied about it, because I liked scouting. You learn all sorts of valuable skills, go camping a bunch, make a lot of friends and your parents get something which keeps you out of their hair once in a while.

They did bring up the god thing a lot in my troop, but it was generally kind of an "And we all believe in god right? OK, Good," thing. So I'd just nod in agreement because what was the non-existent diety going to do to me for lying about it? Honestly, it probably contributed to my attitude towards scouting quite a bit though, which was that I wanted to learn their knowledge but was utterly dinsinterested in the badges and ranks. I'd attend a class the whole way through, learn whatever it was they were teaching and then when it was time for the badge test I'd just leave or not show up.

If they hadn't pushed the god thing I probably would have insisted on staying in the scouts longer and been more interested in becoming an Eagle Scout. But my time in the scouts was great, and I'd encourage my kid to just do the same thing I did. Join, and just lie about his feelings about god and nothing else.

Glad they're taking gays now... too bad about athiests, but let's not let the enemy of the good be the perfect. This is still a positive step forward for them, and I'm glad they took it.